diff --git a/doc/src/language/modules/import.md b/doc/src/language/modules/import.md
index 5e0a377a..b592ff74 100644
--- a/doc/src/language/modules/import.md
+++ b/doc/src/language/modules/import.md
@@ -7,10 +7,17 @@ Import a Module
 `import` Statement
 -----------------
 
-A module can be _imported_ via the `import` statement, and its members are accessed via '`::`' similar to C++.
+A module can be _imported_ via the `import` statement, and be given a name.
+Its members can be accessed via '`::`' similar to C++.
+
+A module that is only `import`-ed but not under any module name is commonly used for initialization purposes,
+where the module script contains initialization statements that puts the functions registered with the
+[`Engine`] into a particular state.
 
 ```rust
-import "crypto" as lock;        // import the script file 'crypto.rhai' as a module named 'lock'
+import "crypto_init";           // run the script file 'crypto_init.rhai' without creating an imported module
+
+import "crypto" as lock;        // run the script file 'crypto.rhai' and import it as a module named 'lock'
 
 lock::encrypt(secret);          // use functions defined under the module via '::'
 
diff --git a/src/engine.rs b/src/engine.rs
index 65228a8f..d485f22b 100644
--- a/src/engine.rs
+++ b/src/engine.rs
@@ -1806,7 +1806,7 @@ impl Engine {
             // Import statement
             #[cfg(not(feature = "no_module"))]
             Stmt::Import(x) => {
-                let (expr, (name, _pos), _) = x.as_ref();
+                let (expr, alias, _pos) = x.as_ref();
 
                 // Guard against too many modules
                 #[cfg(not(feature = "unchecked"))]
@@ -1820,8 +1820,11 @@ impl Engine {
                 {
                     if let Some(resolver) = &self.module_resolver {
                         let mut module = resolver.resolve(self, &path, expr.position())?;
-                        module.index_all_sub_modules();
-                        mods.push((name.clone().into(), module));
+
+                        if let Some((name, _)) = alias {
+                            module.index_all_sub_modules();
+                            mods.push((name.clone().into(), module));
+                        }
 
                         state.modules += 1;
 
diff --git a/src/parser.rs b/src/parser.rs
index c66fa56b..8b3bf3ea 100644
--- a/src/parser.rs
+++ b/src/parser.rs
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ pub enum Stmt {
     ReturnWithVal(Box<((ReturnType, Position), Option<Expr>, Position)>),
     /// import expr as module
     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_module"))]
-    Import(Box<(Expr, (String, Position), Position)>),
+    Import(Box<(Expr, Option<(String, Position)>, Position)>),
     /// expr id as name, ...
     #[cfg(not(feature = "no_module"))]
     Export(
@@ -2685,14 +2685,8 @@ fn parse_import(
     let expr = parse_expr(input, state, lib, settings.level_up())?;
 
     // import expr as ...
-    match input.next().unwrap() {
-        (Token::As, _) => (),
-        (_, pos) => {
-            return Err(
-                PERR::MissingToken(Token::As.into(), "in this import statement".into())
-                    .into_err(pos),
-            )
-        }
+    if !match_token(input, Token::As)? {
+        return Ok(Stmt::Import(Box::new((expr, None, token_pos))));
     }
 
     // import expr as name ...
@@ -2709,7 +2703,7 @@ fn parse_import(
 
     Ok(Stmt::Import(Box::new((
         expr,
-        (name, settings.pos),
+        Some((name, settings.pos)),
         token_pos,
     ))))
 }